Helmet having a crown shielding device



Nov. 26, 1963 M. T. MARIETTA HELMET HAVING A CROWN SHIELDING DEVICE Filed Sept. 25, 1961 INVENTOR MIC HAEL T.MAR1ETTA ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,111,674 Patented Nov. 26, 1963 3,111,674 HELMET HAVING A CROWN SHIELDING DEVICE Michael T. Marietta, 5538 University Blvd Dallas 9, Tex. Filed Sept. 25, 1961, Ser. No. 140,357 1 Claim. (Cl. 2-3) This invention relates to a shielding device for athletic type helmets, and more particularly to a crown piece and means for connecting the same to the head suspension members used in such helmets.

It is common practice in athletic type helmets to provide a head-encircling band riveted or otherwise secured to the helmet shell, the band having a plurality of straps secured thereto and extending upwardly towards the crown of the shell. Adjustment means such as a cord may be employed to adjust the straps to the proper head size of the wearer. The suspension straps are ordinarily of such a length that when they are in their finally adjusted position, a space is left between the straps and the inner surface of the crown portion of the shell so that the shock of a blow against the outer surface of the helmet will not be transmitted directly to the head of the wearer. However, in some instances, a severe blow might cause the helmet to be driven against the head of the wearer despite the existence of the aforementioned space and result in serious injury to the wearer.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a resilient, shock-absorbing crown piece which is replaceably retained in the suspension straps so as to provide a cushion between the head of the wearer and the inner surface of the crown portion of the helmet.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for retaining the crown piece in position while permitting adjustment of the suspension straps to fit the particular head size of the wearer.

Another object is to provide a novel arrangement of the suspension straps so as to lessen the number of straps normally required without reducing their efiiciency.

With these and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective assembled view of the head band and suspension straps with the crown piece and its retaining member in position.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view showing the crown piece, the retaining member and portions of the suspension straps and cord.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the head suspension assembly A includes a head-encircling band 1 having an outer band 2 of greater length than the band 1 arranged coextensive therewith and stitched or otherwise secured thereto as at 3 at spaced intervals throughout its length. Since the outer band 2 is of greater length than the head band 1, there is formed between the stitching points 3 a space or pocket 4. This space provides some measure of protection against blows directed to the side of the helmet in that the shock of the blow is partially absorbed.

A plurality of straps 5 are stitched at each of their ends as indicated at 6 to the outer band 2 at approxi mately the center of the pockets 4. Each of the straps is twisted so as to form a loop 7 substantially medially thereof for a purpose which will later appear. By twisting the straps in this fashion, a lesser number of the same will be required than would be the case where a shorter length of strap was employed and the inner end was merely folded back upon itself and stitched to form a loop.

At the point where the ends of the straps 5 are connected to the band 2 an eyelet 8 is provided to receive a rivet 9 or other type fastener which is used to secure the suspension assembly to the helmet shell B.

The crown piece C is formed of a resilient material such as foam rubber, although any other resilient material having shock-absorbing characteristics may be employed. The crown piece consists of a substantially circular base 10 provided with a stud 11 on the top wall thereof. The side wall 12 of the stud is preferably perpendicular to the top wall of the base 10 although it could conceivably be slightly tapered from top to bottom or vice versa, if desired.

The means employed to grip the crown piece C and retain it in position when it is assembled with the straps 5 comprises a flexible disc 13 provided with a central opening 14 of lesser diameter than the diameted of the stud 11. A plurality of circumferentially spaced slits 15 are formed between the opening 14 of the outer edge of the disc. Although only three slits are shown in the drawing, this is for purposes of illustration only. The number of slits should correspond to the number of straps used so that the loops thereof may be connected to a related slit by the cord 16.

In order to assemble the crown piece with the straps, the central opening 14 in the disc 13 is slipped over the stud 11. Since the diameter of the opening 14 is less than the diameter of the stud 11 and the latter is of a compressible nature, the edge of the disc surrounding the opening 14 will flex slightly and compress the wall 12 of the stud, as shown in FIGURE 2, to prevent its accidental removal from the disc while in use. With the crown piece and disc thus assembled, they are connected to the straps 5 by threading the cord 16 alternately through one of the slits 15, through an adjacent loop 7, back through the other end of the same slit and so on through the remaining slits and loops until all of the loops and slits are interconnected by the cord. The free ends of the cord may then be pulled to adjust the straps to fit the head of the wearer and tied to secure the assembly in proper position.

It should be understood that the embodiment of the invention described and illustrated is believed to be the best embodiment. However, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and illustrated, within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A helmet comprising, in combination, a head-protecting shell, a head-band secured to the shell, a plurality of headstraps each secured at the lower end to said band and provided at the upper end with a loop portion, a crownpiece of resilient material including a circular base having a central stud, a flexible strap-attaching disc having a central opening and a plurality of circumferentially-spaeed slits intermediate the periphery and opening of said disc whereby, said disc is removably supported upon the base of said crown-piece and retained thereupon with said stud passing through said opening, said opening in said disc being of less diameter than the diameter of said stud, each of said loop portions disposed adjacent one of said slits, and a cord successively passing through each of said loop portions and the adjacent slit for adjustably retaining said loop portions above said crown-piece, Whereby, said slits maintain said loop portions circumferentially equidistant from each other While permitting unequal radial displacement of said loop portions in accordance with unequal strain upon said straps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,271,495 Hall Jan. 27, 1942 2,328,871 Woehler Sept. 7, 1943 2,455,797 Myers et al. Dec. 7, 1948 2,796,609 Fisher et al. June 25, 1957 2,969,546 Morgan Jan. 31, 1961 

